The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-11

The following open letter is published
by request of Gen. Chalmers:
OR John II. Caldwell and others of Pamela county,
Nlss.:
"Gentlemen-I received, just after the
last election, your request Tor my opinion
as TO whether the Greenbackers, indie
pendents and others who opposed the
Democratic party in Mississippi should or
should not join the Republican party. In
the press of business ] overlooked it, until
my attention was called to ii this morning
by the invitation OF the National Republic
an committee to all who were opposed to
the Democratic party to join them.
"There are two great political parties,
and those who desire the defeat of one
should Join the other, as there is no hope
now for the success of q third party.
"Our last Greenback candidate for vice
president, Gen. West, announced this last
year, and himself returned To the Dem
ocratic party, leaving those who had fol-
lowed him to choose for themselves.
every man who has opposed the Dem
ocratic party in Mississippi has been called
Republican during the canvass and COM
PEELED TO bear whatever burden and odium
was attached TO that name, and yet when
commissioners and inspectors OF election
were to be appointed we were denied
recognition by the Democratic appointing
power because we were not Republicans.
! Thus we had all the disadvantages and
none Of the advantages OF being Repub-
LEANS
$50 far as the platforms Of the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties are concerned
there has been little difference between
them, and a man might entertain any
views he pleased on the tariff, currency or
| internal improvement and still call himself
Democrat or Republican as he saw fit.
"But the last message OF President Clcve'
land, and the Parisinterview Mr.. Blaine,
will divide the parties ON sharply defined
issues as to the tariff.
"Thomas jefferson, who is called the
father Of Democracy, believed in raising
the necessary revenue Of the government
by tariff on imported goods, and called
the internal revenue tax AN internal
revenue which should only be resorted
| TO in the last resort, and as a measure of
great necessity, and for many years the in.
ternal revenue taxes were abolished. As a
war measure tointernal reuenue taxes were
levied ON whisky and tobacco, and now
produce about Sl20, 000, 900 OF revenue.
ave have about $40, 600, 900 Of surplus
revenue, and the abolition OF the internal
revenue system would wipe out that sur
plus and leave the States free by high
license to tax whisky rs may beneccssary.
or prohibit its use altogether.
"Mr. Blaine, in his reported interview,
proposes to restore the government TO the
practice of our fathers and collect the rev.
enuc for the ordinary expenses OF the gov
eminent from n tariff on foreign goods
alone, and to use the revenue from whisky
60 build necessary Notifications aud sea
coast deicnses.
President Cleveland, on the other
hand. is opposed 10 the abolition of the in
ternal revenue system, and for the iirst
time in the history OF our government,
proposes 10 raise by tariff $4,000, 600 less
than enough to carry on the government,
and TO make up this deficit from the in.
ternal tax. The issue il thus sharply de-
fined by these representative men Of their
respective parties.
"The Democrats propose ~ tax the pro-
duciion OF their own countrymcn- the
Republicans propose TO ig' The productions
OF foreigners.
"The Democrats say to the American
manufacturer, close up and quit II you
can't compete with the whole world, and
TO the American laborer, you must ROO
hog or die
"The Republicans say We wish revenue
by tariff alone, and 80 adjust Il ~ 10
give protection 10 American labOrers,
TO American manufacturers, TO American
woo.growers, American miners, and
every American interest that can be pro-
tected by a judcious tariff.
"The Republicans encourage the pro.
duction Of everything possible at home.
| Tho Dpmocrnl saws DnDduce only what
You can produce cheaper than any one
else can produce, and buy from Others
what they can produce cheaper than you
can.
"The best farmer Is the man who pro-
duccs everything possible at home, al
though Il may seem 10 cost more 10 make
than 10 buy IL. And what Is true Of an
individual IL true Of nation.
"And every cotton raiser knows the fall
lacy Of raising only what he can produce
chcapes, and buying from others what
they can produce cheaper than he can.
Mississippi can produce cotton cheaper
than Illinois. Illinois can produce corn,
meal and mules cheaper than Mississippi.
But Mississippi has grown poorer and
poorer every year raising cotton TO buy
corn. meal and mules from the northwest,
and thus demonstrates the utter fallacy OF
this theory.
iii the Republican party OF Mississippi
extends 20 ms the same invitation extended
by the National Republican committee |
shall accept Il. Youn truly,
"JAs. 4. CHALMERS.
Memphis, Tenn, Dec. 10, 1851"
|
Courts. Cotton aud College.
| Al.